i need a supercharging plan..

alright guys, here is the deal, my local shop told me that i need a plan of action for my engine build (they are helping me for a grad challenge high school thing)...

soo the plan currently is... (2003 ford ranger 4.0 SOHC manual, with JBA shorty heads, K&N CAI, and straight pipe)

grab an engine stand of craigslist and a heater for the winter

scrap a old motor out of the junkyard, have one in mind.. 2003 4.0 SOHC with 83K miles....600$ good for that? im gonna try to shop around, but i really want to see the engine run before i buy it, i guess thats just me though AND WOULD A 4.0 explorer engine bolt right up??

Looking for the 300rwhp range

im gonna take it all apart, get someone to hone it, port the heads, get some lower compression pistons i think, around 9:1 i think? and throw in a different cam while im in there (NEED ADVICE ON WHICH ONE AND WHATS INVOLVED, i hear you have to modify some stuff if you go with option A, but can just swap option B in without anything)

internal wise, thats about all im gonna do, not sure if there should be more

sooo after that, gonna start putting it back together and snag a supercharger kit from rpcaster i think...and then snag the charger...(unless someone knows how to mount a better charger, i saw someone on RPS with a MP112)

was thinking about water/meth injecting that, but the local shop said that they could probably rig up an after cooler for it, so i was like, what the hell, that would be good!!...and im planning on putting the smaller/smallest pulley on it

i will be replacing the clutch to complement the power, but have seen people with the stock tranny with this kind of power....i have just been told not to drop the clutch and have the wheels lock up.



PLEASE GIVE ALL THE ADVICE POSSIBLE!! will be starting shopping for an engine tommorow hopefully

 

[Jakee]

You know what I say, but I'll say it again. With a 300HP goal all you need is a fresh 4.0 SOHC and a turbo. Done deal.

(And all the other supporting mods like, MAF, Injectors, Fuel pump....ect)

 

[jah81592]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^What he said.

 

[rocket 5979]

I understand that Jake and James have already posted their thoughts on this but I think an important question needs to be answered first and foremost, before any recommendations be made.

What do you plan to use the vehicle for? The more specific you are here the better the recommendation that can be provided that will suit your needs and intended uses for the vehicle.

 

[lifted4.0]

ooo soorry, i run a lawn mowing/scaping business, soo i would like the grunt work...i dont need the truck to go from 0-60 in 5.674 seconds...just POWER in low end to tow..

the more weight i can tow sucessfully, the better!!

 

[rocket 5979]

ooo soorry, i run a lawn mowing/scaping business, soo i would like the grunt work...i dont need the truck to go from 0-60 in 5.674 seconds...just POWER in low end to tow..

the more weight i can tow sucessfully, the better!!

Your best bet will to go with Ron's (RPCaster) supercharger kit deal and then source your own M90 unit for it. It will not break the bank and will provide the kind of power you are looking to use.

 

[lifted4.0]

mhmm, should i really try to finagle a after cooler in there to run more boost, i dont wanna settle with 5-6psi like most people are running....the local shop said they could come up with something...

 

[rocket 5979]

mhmm, should i really try to finagle a after cooler in there to run more boost, i dont wanna settle with 5-6psi like most people are running....the local shop said they could come up with something...

Ii would just first install the blower system as is. Then after you have ran that for a while you can decide whether you want to go for more power. You might find that you are totally happy with 5-6 psi and that is all you want.

 

[lifted4.0]

but if i was building the engine to take more power with a lower compression ratio, wouldnt it make sense, just to crank the boost no matter what??

cause if not, whats the point of putting better pistons in the engine, if the stock ones can handle 5-6psi?

 

[FROADER]

I may be way off base here, but how about re-gearing if it's for towing and low end "power?"

 

[awdrocks]

I agree with Rocket. The M90 is very efficient at 5-6 psi and does very well at 9psi.

Froader doesn't have a bad idea either if all your looking for is "towing" capacity.

So re-gearing, and a snappy low end positive displacement blower like the M90 , will have all the low end you need.

 

[lifted4.0]

soo running it was 9 psi, im gonna need an after cooler?...yaa what gears should i be looking at for the rear for the towing power...is re-gearing gonna change the HP of the vehicle?

 

[FROADER]

Re-gearing doesn't change the HP of the vehicle, just the ratios in the axles. Let us know what size tires are you running and then we can help you figure out what gears you should use. Is the truck 2wd or 4wd?

 

[Jakee]

My suggestion was based on "Looking for the 300rwhp range". As long as you know you're more than likely not going to see this with the M90.

 

[lifted4.0]

4wd and i would probably be running the stock 265/75R16 tires for a lil bit

 

[rocket 5979]

but if i was building the engine to take more power with a lower compression ratio, wouldnt it make sense, just to crank the boost no matter what??

cause if not, whats the point of putting better pistons in the engine, if the stock ones can handle 5-6psi?

If you really do end up building the bottom end with forged components then yes go ahead and throw more boost to it. However, I usually see people that start out with eyes bigger than their wallets or skills. Once they start getting into the tougher stuff they end up cutting their larger goals short. If you truly think you will end up doing s full build on the bottom end of your 4.0 V6 then go ahead and boost it higher, but until then keep the boost on a more manageable level.

 

[rocket 5979]

My suggestion was based on "Looking for the 300rwhp range". As long as you know you're more than likely not going to see this with the M90.

Jake there are many different kinds of 300rwhp. You can't just cookie-cutter your advice based only upon your personal preferences. While the turbo is the more efficient way to make that power it is not the type of power this guy is looking for. If you are going to offer help then I suggest that you actually ask the proper questions to see what the vehicle owner's goals AND intended uses are first. Otherwise you are just shooting from the hip.

With the proper supporting components the 4.0 SOHC V6 can see pretty damn close to 300rwhp on an Eaton M90.

 

[awdrocks]

Jake there are many different kinds of 300rwhp. You can't just cookie-cutter your advice based only upon your personal preferences. While the turbo is the more efficient way to make that power it is not the type of power this guy is looking for. If you are going to offer help then I suggest that you actually ask the proper questions to see what the vehicle owner's goals AND intended uses are first. Otherwise you are just shooting from the hip.

With the proper supporting components the 4.0 SOHC V6 can see pretty damn close to 300rwhp on an Eaton M90.

Correct.

And with the M90 you will see about 90% of its power at about 1,900 rpm's. Yeah you might possible make more "peak" whp with the turbo, but not at the RPM range where you need it for towing. The M90 power curve for your intended use will be much better suited with the positive displacement blower.

 

[turbo cat]

A turbo can help low end torque. Prefferably a "small" for the applicaton. A single large T3 would spool befroe max torque and pound for pound you will see more power improvment than a blower as your not robbing the crank of power. You could even strap on a Turbocoupe T3 wit ha .68AR housing and it would spool fast and support at least 5-6 psi. Keep the boost low and keep it alive. Leave the motor as is. Spernd the cash on tuning gear like an SCT xcalibrator 2 and the fuel system.

Also dont use i want 300hp when your also saying its just a tow truck which needs more torque" So how about saying "i want over 350 ft lbs of torque"

i have a .48 ar T3 on my 4.0 ohv and it can see full boost before max torque. As a turbo smaller than needed will usually create a large torque curve but a smaller HP figure and a larger than needed turbo will create lower torque numbers and slower response with high rpm power

 

[turboexplorer]

I agree with rocket and awdrocks. That M90 is your best bet.